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Sep. 23, 2013 — The topical anti-fungal drug Ciclopirox causes HIV-infected cells to commit suicide by jamming up the cells' powerhouse, the mitochondria -- according to a study by researchers at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. And unlike current anti-HIV drugs, Ciclopirox completely eradicates infectious HIV from cell cultures, with no rebound of virus when the drug is stopped. The study has been published in the journal PLOS ONE.

The treatment of patients with HIV has been revolutionized by the advent of combination anti-retroviral drugs. But although these drugs are highly effective at keeping HIV at bay, they must be taken for the life of the patient and never eliminate the infection completely. This is illustrated by the often rapid resurgence of virus in patients who stop taking these medications. The persistence of HIV is partially due to the ability of the virus to disable the cell's altruistic suicide pathway, which is normally activated when a cell becomes infected or damaged.

A team of researchers from three departments at New Jersey Medical School, led by Michael Mathews and Hartmut Hanauske-Abel, previously showed that Ciclopirox, commonly used by dermatologists and gynecologists to treat fungal infections, inhibits the expression of HIV genes in culture. The group now shows that the drug works against HIV in two ways: It inhibits the expression of HIV genes and also blocks the essential function of the mitochondria, thereby reactivating the cell's suicide pathway. Healthy, uninfected cells examined during this study were spared. And remarkably, the virus did not bounce back when Ciclopirox was removed.

The utility of Ciclopirox in patients with HIV, for instance after topical application to reduce sexual transmission of the virus, awaits verification in future clinical trials. However the fact that Ciclopirox is already approved for treatment of patients by the FDA and by its European counterpart, the EMA, and therefore considered safe for human use, may eliminate much of the time and expense ordinarily involved in the drug development process.

Indeed, the authors note the speed with which a second FDA-approved drug believed to have promise in subduing HIV, Deferiprone, has moved directly from tests in culture to a phase I human trial conducted in South Africa, thanks to previously published results now reinforced by additional research in culture described in the current paper. Studies in animals were safely skipped, creating a model for rapid transition from drug effect in a plastic dish to drug effect in patients. In contrast to

Ciclopirox, approved for topical use, Deferiprone is FDA- and EMA-approved for systemic use (in certain thalassemia patients with iron overload). The discovery that two drugs, each well-tolerated by patients when used as indicated, are deadly to HIV-infected cells, may open a new chapter in the fight against HIV/AIDS that moves the world closer to the eradication of HIV-1 infection.

So, ciclopirox is applied topically and eradicates HIV infected cells? It's great that it can go to human trials right away since it's already FDA approved, but I'm wondering if it will be like a patch you wear.

So, ciclopirox is applied topically and eradicates HIV infected cells? It's great that it can go to human trials right away since it's already FDA approved, but I'm wondering if it will be like a patch you wear.

Not exactly. I wish these articles would tell the entire story instead of just the "so and so eradicates HIV."

I use Nizoral shampoo as part of my dandruff regimen. Though I no longer suffer from itchy scalp I still have AIDS.

Perhaps I should mix some in my vodka cran.......

Can I join you for the vodka cranberry?Wouldn't it be a kick in the pants to find out that the cure for AIDS was in your medicine chest the whole time? And it's the same stuff that cured your jock itch and athletes foot fungus!

Not exactly. In vitro. And the skin of feets isn't a common place for reservoirs. At least you have to eat/inject ciclopirox, but it is tested for topical use only. Eaten It can have severe adverse effects.

Thanks for that post. I ordered some Chaga mushroom supplements along with Neem, which I've been taking now for about a year for the same reason - antiviral properties.

Most likely the active ingredient in Chaga is betulinic acid. Panacos was the company that had an ARV based on that in FDA testing (Bevirimat). Although it worked, it didn't work for everyone and they finally sold the rights to a mid-tier pharma that eventually discontinued the trials.

Note that Chaga teas won't have betulinic acid (based on what I've read), so you will probably need capsules or the raw product.

I don't see the point of ordering Chaga mushrooms or any other "thing" with Anti-viral properties for that matter.

Do you have a VL? If not, how would you know if it is doing anything to the viral reservoirs? Are you going to have a rectal biopsy every few months to find out the state of your reservoirs?

Now, if it is to increase CD4s, well...perhaps. I read an article on how the Chinese are using shrums for increasing CD4s.

We just have to be careful. Let clinical trials do their thing. We will end this plague. Basic science on HIV cure is VERY promising, and any of you who read this forum know that the last two years have reveiled many, many breakthroughs and techniques to end The Cure.

Some clinical trials have already started, many more even more promising are about to get started between next year and the following.

Example: Dr. Andrea Saravino (sp?) et al are very possibly going try to start a trial to replicate a drug-free remission of AIDS in monkeys on humans next year.

Hello, I found out that Deferiprone is contained in the medicine Ferriprox, which is sold in the form of tablets. Do you think it would do any wrong, if I try a few pills of it? Or, use one of the products containing Ciclopirox as a rectal creme? I don't intend stopping HAART, don't believe these two chems would completely cure HIV, but I guess it's worth trying?

Has any of you already tried one/both of these two chems, and is there any direct effect on your VL/CD4 count?

There's a clinical trial happening right now in South Africa with Deferipone -- shouldn't take that long until we know the Phase I results for safety.

-- I'd hold off a bit before plunging into this. And whatever you do, consult your ID doc!

-- George

Hi George,

Apparently phase 1 trails have actually been completed already; the results however have yet to be published.

"Coauthor Deepti Saxena and colleagues have already done a proof-of-concept Phase 1 clinical trial of deferiprone in a small number of people with HIV in South Africa, according to a press release issued by Rutgers. Findings have not yet been published, but the PLoS ONE article noted that a one-week course of deferiprone reduced HIV viral load as much as zidovudine (AZT or Retrovir), and the effect lasted for seven weeks after stopping treatment."

I'm very excited about this, in theory if the only viral reservoirs turn out to be of the blood, this could in theory provide a cure. But as we know, HIV also exists within semen and other bodily fluids the question is whether or not these HIV particles contain any viral reservoirs or not.